Print drying apparatus



Dec. 26, 1939. G. 'M. DYE 2,184,663

PRINT DRYING APPARATUS Filed March 22, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l 122702 for 615%17/5 Dec. 26, 1939. s. M. DYE

PRINT DRYING APPARATUS zilfa 79795/ Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

simple, efficient and compact machine for drying photographic prints having a drying drum with a heating means therein preferably of the electrical type and means for regulating said heating means.

It is another object of the invention to provide a print drying machine comprising a drying member having a heated surface, a traveling apron movable over said surface together with novel and efiicient guiding means for said apron. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide a print drying machine comprising a heated drying member, a traveling apron movable over said member together with a novel, simple and efficient structure or frame for supporting said apron.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which likereierence characters refer to similar parts throughout the sev-- eral views and in which:-- ,5

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of said machine;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with certain portions broken away and others shownin horizontal section;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrow;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through the machine;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 4 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is substantially a vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4 as indicated by the arrow, some parts being broken away and others shown in further vertical section; and- Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrow.

Referring to the drawings, a machine for drying prints or similar articles is shown comprising a frame having horizontal members l6. While these might be variously made, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated they are shown as angle bars having their angles facing each other with one side horizontal and the other vertical. Vertical frame members shown as formed of fiat bars have their lower ends disposed against the inner surfaces of the vertical sides of members In and are rigidly secured to said members by headed and nutted bolts I2, said bolts being" shown as having slotted button heads. Bars ll have straight lower ends 'which seat on the horizontal sides of angle bars l and are disposed a short distance from the front ends of bars l0. Another pair of bars l3 similar to bars I I extend vertically from the inner sides of bars II) at the rear ends thereof and also have straight lower sides seating on members In. The members II and I3 at each side of the frame are connected by horizontal bars 14. Headed bolts I extend through alined holes in said members and are equipped with wing nuts l6 disposed at the outer sides of members H and I3. Bars M. are thus readily removable by removing nuts l6 and bolts l5. Plates I'l shown as substantially rectangular in form are secured against the inner sides of both of the bars In between members and I3 by means of headed and nutted bolts I8. Plates l1 have semi-circular notches extending from their top edges in which rest the cylindrical portions of ball bearings l9, said bearings having flanges |9a disposed at the outer sides of plates |'l. Ball bearing members l9 have journaled therein the reduced ends of shafts 20 which carry the rubber rollers or sleeves 2|. The sleeves 2| are placed over the shafts 20 and collar members 22 having a number of circumferentially spaced sharp pins 23 therein are then placed on the shaft and the pins pushed into the ends of the sleeves 2|. Said collars 22 are then secured in position by the set screws 24. The reduced ends of shafts 20 extending through the ball bearings l9 are threaded to receive the clamping nuts 25. A cylindrical drum 26 is supported on rollers 2| and has its ends disposed within the bars l4. Drum 26 is heated by a plurality of electrical heating elements 21 and while the number of these might be'varied, in practice three of them have been used. Said heating elements 21 are carried in the troughshaped plate 28 which is secured by bolts 29 to acircular plate 3|] disposed at one end of the drum .26 and secured by headed and nutted bolts 3| to one of the bars IA. The plate 28 has secured thereto adjacent its ends a pair of chains 32 secured at their lower ends to a metallic shoe 33 having an upturned end to which said chains are secured and having its other end curved so as to slide or ride on the inner surface of drum 26. Shoe 33 which is made from a plate having considerably less width than drum 26 has an intermediate fiat portion to which is secured a thermostat 34 from which conductors 35 lead to one or I vmore of the heating elements 21.

The plate 30 has secured thereto a switch box 36 having a small snap switch 31 carried therein and also having mounted therein a small lamp 38. A casing 39 is disposed adjacent switch box 36 adapted to receive a plug 40 from which extend conductors 4| having a plug thereon adapted to be connected into a rheostat casing 42 supported on one of the bars l3. Casing 42 has a rotatable knob 42a thereon with an arrow adapted to register with certain graduaticns 42b, which knob is turned for regulating the speed of motor 50. Another conductor cord 43 extends from plug 40 and has an ordinary electrical plug at its end adapted to be connected to an electrical socket to furnish a current supply. A drive wheel 44 is secured to the end of the rear shaft 20 of one of the rollers 2|, the same having a flat friction face 44a at one side thereof. A tapered friction wheel 45 engages face 441;. and is secured to a shaft 46 journaled in bearings 41a of a motor bracket 41. Shaft 46 has a worm wheel gear 48 secured thereto driven by a worm gear 49 secured to the armature shaft of a motor 56 mounted on bracket 41. Bracket 41 has a pair of spaced hook members 41b extending upwardly therefrom which engage over soft resilient sleeves 5| preferably made of rubber which surround a rod 52 secured to and projecting from one of the bars 13. As shownin Fig. 7 the members 4112 incline outwardly toward their lower ends so that the motor assembly and wheel 45 tend to swing outwardly by gravity. This causes. a pressure of wheel 45 against face 44a of wheel 44 to drive the latter. A member 53 shown as a cylindrical rod extends between bars l3 just above bars II), the same being rigidly held in bars l3. Another member 54 also shown as a cylindrical rod extends between members I0 adjacent their forward ends and this member has secured thereon a pair of collars 55 movable thereon but adapted to be held in fixed position relatively thereto by set screws 56. Members 54 have reduced ends forming shoulders 54a adapted to bear against the inner sides of bars l0. Said bars have elongated slots lOa therein through which the reduced ends of rod 54 project, said ends being threaded to receive wing nuts 51. by means of which rod 54 is rigidly clamped in position. It

will be seen that the angle which rod 54 makes with bars "I can be varied by moving the ends of bar 54 in one or both slots Illa. Bars I 4 have secured thereto flat bars 58 which extend downwardly therefrom and have pivoted in their lower ends the outturned ends 59a of a bail member 59 having side portions extending at each side of drum 26 and a straight portion 59b which extends transversely at one side of said drum. Weights 66 are slidable on the side portions of ball 59 and adapted to be held in fixed position thereon by set screws 6|. Bars l4 have slots I4a adjacent their ends, which slots or notches receive the end portions of rods 62a forming the end members of a rack or frame 62. Said frame comprisesa pair of spaced substantially semi-circular rods 62!) between which extend a plurality of circumferentially spaced rods 620 having their ends secured to rods 62b by welding or any other suitable means. Rods 62b have their. ends secured to the end members or rods 62a in any suitable manner as by welding. A pair of members shown as comparatively small cylindrical rods 63 extend between and are secured in the plates I! just above bars II). An apron 64 is provided made of some strong absorbent material, said apron having its ends joined so as to be continuous and the sameruns over member 54 toward the lower portion of 'drum 26, over the yielding rollers 2| and between over the top of drum 26, then around the lower side of the portion 59b of bail 59. The apron then is reversely turned to extend upwardly and runs over and is supported by rods 62a and 620 of frame 62. From the rear rod 62a said apron extends downwardly around member 53 and over rods 63 forwardly and under member 54. Each bar H has secured to its inner side by bolts 66 a plate 65. Said plates extend inwardly slightly beyond the periphery of drum 26. Another plate 61 extends between plates and may be held at its bottom and forward end by the bolts 10. Plate 61 extends horizontally at its bottom and has a vertical rear end from which extends forwardly and upwardly a top portion 61a. A strip of rather stiff soft fabric 68 is secured to the upper edge of portion 61a, which strip is substantially in engagement with the surface of drum 26. Plate 61 forms a shelf for supporting an openwork basket 69 provided to receive the prints as they drop from drum 26.

In operation, cord 43 will be connected to a source of power and motor 56 will be driven.

Heat will be supplied to the elements 21 and drum' 26 will be heated. The machine is usually run for a short period until the proper degree of heat is obtained. While the period of revolution of drum 26 can vary, in practice with the machine marketed this period has been fixed at about nine minutes. As the drum rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, shoe 33 engages the inside surface of the drum and is heated by the heat of the drum and within the drum. When the drum has reached the desired temperature thermostat 34 will cutout one or more of the heating elements 21. Lamp 38 which in practice has been a red lamp is illuminated until the desired temperature is reached and it is then extinguished. Should the temperature drop below the desired point thermostat 34 will cut in one or more coils 21 and lamp 38 will again be illuminated until the desired temperature is again attained.

The prints to be dried are placed on the front prints by this time are completely dried and they drop from the drum into basket 69. Fabric strip 68 is provided to prevent prints passing between portion 61a and drum 26 and thus not entering the basket.

Diiliculty has been experienced for years with machines such as above described having a traveling apron on account of the apron tending to drift or shift to one side. A great deal of study has been put on this problem and many suggested devices tried'for guiding the apron; The difliculty has been solved by the structure illustrated in the present case. The member 54 isheld stationary and'the apron 64 slides around the same. The collars 55 are provided on member 54 to engage the edges of the apron. The member 64 can be adjusted by moving its ends slightly in the slots l0a to vary the angle it makes with bars III or the longitudinal axis of the machine or in other words the direction of travel of the apron 64. With the described construction it has been found that the apron can be accurately and properly guided. Long tests have been made in running the machine and the apron has not shifted or drifted out of central position. One edge of the apron usually bears against one of the collars 55 and with the proper adjustment of member 54 the desired result is secured. Once the position of member 54 has been determined for one machine said member can be clamped in position and will not need to be further adjusted. The influences in the machine causing the apron to drift or shift are thus counteracted and the apron will travel without shifting laterally. The collars 55 can be adjusted to suit the width of the apron. The apron is under tension longitudinally during the operation of the machine and becomes smaller in width. The collars can thus be moved to suit the apron. Said collars thus act' as stops for the edges of the apron. One important feature appears to be that the apron slides over member 54. Tests have shown that if a roller is used for member 54 or if member 54 is allowed to rotate then the apron will shift to one side or the other depending on the slackness. The frame 62 also has a guiding effect as the apron moves over rods 62a and 620, the apron often engaging the side members 62b. The rack 62 forms a very simple and inexpensive construction and has been found to be very suitable for the purpose of supporting the traveling apron. The bail 59 acts to keep the proper tension on the apron and this tension can be varied by adjusting the weights 60. The rack 62 can be readily removed as it merely rests at its ends in the bars l4. By having the bars l4 readily detachable the machine can be quickly disassembled and drum 26 can be very easily removed. When a sufficient number of prints are received in basket 69 it is replaced by another empty basket. The knob 42a can be turned to vary the speed of motor 50 and thus the time it takes a print to travel around the drum.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very simple and efiicient print drying machine. The machine is very compact and can be conveniently supported by having bars l0 rest upon a table. The parts are comparatively few and of simple construction and the machine operates with great accuracy and efficiency. .The same has been amply demonstrated in actual practice, found to be very successful and efficient and is being commercially made.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth in theparts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine of the class described having in combination, a drying member having a heated wall, a traveling apron of thin fabric material moving over the surface of said wall for holding a print thereagainst, a stationary member having .a smooth curved convex surface over which said apron slides, means on said member for engaging the edge of said apron and means for varying the position of the ends of said member, and means for holding said ends in different positions to vary the angle between the central longitudinal axes of said member and apron.

2. A machine of the class described having in combination, a drying member having a heated wall, a traveling apron of thin fabric material moving over the surface of said wall for holding a print thereagainst, a stationary member having a smooth curved convex surface around which said apron slides so as to substantially reverse its direction of travel, members adjustable on said stationary member adapted to engage the edges of said apron and means for holding said last mentioned members in different positions in fixed relation to said stationary member.

3. A machine of the class described having in combination, a drying member having a heated Wall with a'surface, a traveling apron of thin fabric material movable over said surface for holding a print thereagainst, a stationary member having a smooth curved convex surface over which said apron slides, the ends of said member being adjustable longitudinally of said apron and means for holding said ends in different positions so as to vary the angle between the central .longitudinal axis of said member and the longitudinal center line of said apron.

4. A machine of the class described having in combination, a drying member having a heated wall with a surface, a traveling apron of thin fabric material movable over said surface for holding a print thereagainst, a stationary cylindrical rod around which said apron slides so as to substantially reverse its direction of movement at opposite sides thereof and means on said rod for engaging the edges of said apron to guide the same.

5. A machine of the class described having in combination, a frame, a pair of spaced parallel resilient rollers revolubly mounted in the lower part of said frame, a drum resting on said rollers, a pair of stationary cylindrical members mounted in said frame below said'rollers, one being disposed some distance in front of said drum and the other a short distance in the rear of said drum, a swinging gravity-operated member extending across the front of said drum, an adjustable weight for urging said member down- 'wardly, a stationary substantially semi-cylindrical frame extending about the upper half of said drum, an apron passing over said first mentioned cylindrical member and having a print-carrying portion extending therefrom toward said drum, said apron extending between said drum and resilient rollers around said drum to the front thereof around said gravity-actuated member,

then reversely upwardly from said roller over said semi-cylindrical frame and downwardly around said second mentioned cylindrical member and forwardly to said first mentioned cylindrical member and means for driving one of said resilient rollers to rotate said drum and move said apron.

6. A machine of the class described having in combination, a rotatable cylindrical metallic drum, means for rotating said drum, a stationary electrical heating means within said drum,

a metallic shoe suspended to ride in contact with the interior of said drum, a thermostat carried by said shoe and a connection between said thermostat and heating means for regulating the latter.

'7. In a machine of the class described, a frame for supporting an apron comprising substantially semi-cylindrical spaced parallel members, spaced fixed transverse rods extending between said members over which said apron moves and means for supporting said frame.

8. A machine for drying photographic prints having in combination, a drying drum having a heated wall \with a surface, a traveling apron moving over said surface for holding a print thereagainst, said apron having a return portion out of contact with said surface and a plurality of spaced rigid members arranged in an are above and embracing the upper half of said drum, said members having curved convex surfaces over which said return portion slides.

9. A machine for drying photographic prints having in combination, a revoluble heated drum, an endless apron movable around said drum to one side thereof for holding a print thereagainst, said apron having a return portion out of contact with said drum and a frame having a plurality of spaced rigid members arranged in an are above and embracing the upper half of said drum, said members having curved convex surfaces over which said apron slides and having members with which the edges of said apron may engage.

10 A machine of the class described having in combination, a frame comprising spaced plates having top edges with semi-circular slots therein, ball bearing casings resting in said slots having flanges at the outer sides of said plates respectively, shafts journaled in said bearings, yielding resilient sleeves on said shafts between said bearings forming rollers and a drum supported on said rollers.

11. A machine for drying photographic prints having in combination, a frame, a. revoluble drum supported therein, an endless traveling apron moving from one sideof said drum toward the lower side thereof around said drum and downwardly at saidside and then reversely upwardly so that a narrow bight having substantially vertical sides is formed in said apron and a swinging .bail on said frame having a horizontal portion resting in said bight to tension said apron and a weight adjustably mounted on said bail.

12. A machine for drying photographic prints having in combination, a revoluble metallic drum,

means for holding prints against said drum, a plurality of electrical heating units within said drum, a metallic shoe supported for sliding engagement with the inner side of said drum, a

13. A machine of the class described having in combination, a frame, means for revolubly sup-' porting a cylindrical drying drum in said frame, saidframe including horizontal members extending across each end of said drum substantially at the center thereof, said members having slots with open upper ends at each side of said drum, a frame comprising spaced curved members extending over the top of said drum and spaced transverse stationary cylindrical rods extending between said members, two of said rods connecting the ends of said curved members respectively in said slots, and an apron arranged to travel around said drum and over said rods.

14. A machine for drying photographic prints having -in combination, a frame, yielding rollers journaled therein, a drum supported on said rollers, an endless apron moving between said rollers and drum, means for driving one of said rollers to rotate said drum and move said apron including a wheel having a friction surface, a driven. wheel pressing against said surface, a motor, a reduction gearing for driving said driven wheel from said motor, said first mentioned wheel rotating about an axis parallel to the axis of said drum and means for supporting said motor,

driven wheel and reduction gearing to swing about an axis at one side of the center of gravity thereof whereby the same will swing by gravity against said friction surface and drive said first mentioned wheel.

15. In a machine for drying photographic prints, a print pressing roller comprising a resilient rubber tubular sleeve, a shaft extending through said sleeve on which said sleeve fits, a collar on said shaft at one end of said sleeve, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pointed members extending from said collar into the end of said sleeve and means for securing said collar to said shaft.

GLEN M. DYE. 

